France rolled out new strategies to combat drug trafficking on Friday during a visit by the interior and justice ministers to Marseille – a city scarred by a brutal gang war. The proposals include increased staffing, a national coordination unit and expanded powers for specialised courts.
Speaking in the soutjern city – which has become the battleground for a deadly drug trafficking war between rival gangs – Justice Minister Didier Migaud announced plans to establish a "national coordination unit" under the Paris public prosecutor's office within the coming weeks.
This unit will assess drug trafficking threats, develop operational strategies, and oversee their implementation, with a task force comprising magistrates and officials from the interior, finance and criminal analysis sectors.
A task force will include magistrates and representatives from the relevant ministries – particularly the interior and finance – along with criminal analysts.
The unit is intended as a precursor to a national public prosecutor’s office specifically focused on organised crime, though this will require parliamentary approval.
Increased resources
Migaud stated that the Paris public prosecutor’s team working on organised crime cases will see a 40 percent increase in personnel.
Additionally, inter-regional courts (JIRS) throughout France, especially in Marseille, will maintain current staffing levels.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau also committed to strengthening the Anti-Drugs Office (Ofast), expanding its 15 branches and nine regional units. In Marseille, the ministry will assign 25 more investigators and 95 additional police officers to patrol the streets.
The Ministry of Justice will also appoint a liaison magistrate in Bogotá, given Colombia’s status as a major source of drug trafficking.
Specialised courts
Migaud proposed allowing special assize courts composed solely of professional magistrates to handle organised crime trials, particularly drug-related cases, similar to how terrorism cases are conducted in France.
This approach aims to reduce the risk of jury manipulation by using professional judges rather than civilian juries.
Retailleau indicated that investigative methods typically used in anti-terrorism operations could be applied to organised crime.
Public awareness
The justice minister stressed the need to raise public awareness about the connection between drug use, trafficking violence, and related crime.
He announced an upcoming public awareness campaign and called for stronger measures for seizing and confiscating assets from criminal enterprises.
Migaud also proposed creating a "criminal association" offence, potentially including murder, with severe prison sentences for offenders.
Drug-related deaths in Marseille reached a record high in 2023, resulting in 49 murders.
However, recent figures have indicated a decline, showing that the number of drug-related deaths dropped by two-thirds from January to September 2024 compared to the same period last year.
